Purdue University

Purdue University is a world class research institution, consistently ranked as a top university in the nation for its engineering and agriculture programs. It was one of the first universities in the country to offer college credit for flight training and the first university to offer a four-year degree in aviation. Twenty-two Purdue graduate, including Virgil “Gus” Grissom went on to become astronauts, giving the university its nickname, “The Cradle of Astronauts." Purdue University has sought to leverage its competitive position by establishing the Institute for Defense Innovation (IDI) in 2007. Now boasting five research centers with over $20 million in research contracts, the IDI exists to connect the university’s research expertise to end users in the DoD and DHS. Led by engineering professor R. Byron Pipes, the IDI held its first Defense Research Summit in April 2012. Mr. John Miller, Director of the Army Research Laboratory, served as the keynote speaker. Summit topics in the symposia included: Defense Research Issues and Trends; Systems Integrity and Diagnostics; Thermal Energy Management for Military Systems; and Defense Spectrum. The event also featured the inaugural meeting of the Center for Integrated Thermal Management of Aerospace Vehicles. “Homeland Security is intrinsically interdisciplinary, cutting across the full spectrum of academic disciplines. Purdue has the core competencies to provide the needed intellectual capital as well as an intensive interest in this national-indeed, global-need. PHSI was formed during August of 2002. The mission of the Institute is threefold: first, fulfill educational and training needs of Homeland Security professionals. Second, accelerate the discovery, validation, and implementation of new knowledge and tools for sustainable homeland security. Lastly, engage with key stakeholders in meeting the challenges associated with homeland security.”